ASA Clarification

On April 23, 2015, the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) announced changes to the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program (MOCA®), known as MOCA 2.0. In the ABAMOCA 2.0 program, high-fidelity simulation will be strongly encouraged as the ABA considers it a valuable educational tool, but it will no longer be required as of January 1, 2016. More than 90% of the 5,000 diplomates who have participated in a MOCA simulation course reported the experience to be relevant and result in practice improvements.

The ABA is developing a point system for Part 4 activities that will include the addition of a variety of options to meet the Part 4: Improvement in Medical Practice requirement while providing flexibility that allows diplomates opportunities to complete activities relevant to their practice. These activities will be weighted based on the time and effort associated with completing them and simulation will remain a heavily weighted, Part 4 option. In addition, in the ABAMOCA 2.0 program, diplomates will have the option to participate in a MOCA simulation course for Part 4 credit within both five-year periods of the 10-year MOCA cycle. The ABA will provide additional information later this summer on Part 4 activities and their weighting.

In the interim, the current ABAMOCA program remains in effect until December 31, 2015 and diplomates may need to fulfill the following requirements based on when their certificates expire:

For diplomates whose five- or 10-year cycle ends December 31, 2015:ABA diplomates are still required to complete one of these options for Part 4 – an ASAPPAI module, a MOCA simulation course at an ASA-endorsed center, a self-directed case evaluation, a quality improvement project through the Multi-Specialty Portfolio Program or a Part 4 activity through another ABMS Member Board. If you haven’t yet completed one, you must do so before the end of this year.

For diplomates whose five- or 10-year cycle ends in 2016 or thereafter:
A MOCA simulation course at an ASA-endorsed center will continue to count toward the Part 4 requirement in the ABAMOCA 2.0 program and will be heavily weighted. It will continue to count for five
years of Part 4 credit, as it does now.